The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-12
THE WRONG LADY.
a Boys Blunder Regarding "Miss
@. H. Smith"

1t was almost too bleak day to think of
Cupids and mating birds, that 14th of
February, and Jamie Smith drew his over
coat up about his ears, nearly concealing
his uniform cap, as he plunged forward
through the whirling snow, quite regardless
OF consequences. Jamie was New York
messenger boy, IN the regular service, and
he knew from past experience that he
would have his hands full this Valentines
''" carrying sweet missives, bonbon boxes,
al ',owers about, SO there wasn't bit of
use N fretting over the weather. AS he
tor around the corner, head bent forward
and eyes on the ground, he felt sudden
shock and found himself sitting down very
lhar'i on the sidewalk, while directly op-
posite in the same posture, aud making a
great ado over it, was lady of uncertain
age and contorted visage
"You hateful, ha-ateful boyp' she cried,
clutching at the empty air in her frantic
efforts to rise "What do you mean, run
ming into people soa o dearv and she
seemed about to cry.
Full of laughter as he felt, Jamie was a
little gentleman, so he sprang to his feet
and holding out hand to the struggling
lady, said very politely:
Il beg your pardon, ma'am, but didn't
see !you1at all; won't you let me help you
up.'
A little mollifed, she permitted him to
assist her, after which he brushed the
blackened snow from her sealskin cloak
and watched her travel on, thinking what "a
crabbed-looking creature she was, but with
out an idea that he should ever see her
again. All the morning he darted back and
forth, now boarding u streetcar, now on
the elevated road, once springing up the
gang-way of a steamer, just before she
cleared her moorings, with some last miss
Tive from home to an outbound passenger
till noon found him in cheap restaurant
swallowing his lunch, anaconda-like, at u
stand-up counter, ready to be off again
without wasting minute.
But all through the busy day one thought
l;ept him satisfied and cheerful-the thought
of the dainty, scented valentine he was car
irving in his breast pocket for Celia He had
planned dozen times just how he would
steal up to the door and ring the bell, lcav-
ing the envelope on the steps, then run
quickly around the corner and hide, soon to
come in carelessiy whistling as If Just
from the street-car. How to keep back long
enough not to excite her suspicious and yet
come soon enough to see her surprised face
was quandary-but Jamie could solve it IL
any one, for he was used to planning pleas
ures for Celia.
Inc littic oHllunS were OrphanS, ana kept
house alone IN funny, doll-baby way in
two rooms OF u small cottage, tenanted by
young laborer and his wife, who took an
interest in the children, and Strengthened
out the housekeeping sometimes, when
things got into tangle. Celia went 10
school when she was well enough--she was
not very strong-so Jamie took his lunches
downtown, ION the 1ly,n as he expressed
it, but she was always home to have a cozy
little supper ready by six o'clock, and then,
how their tongues would clatter as they
told each other all the remarkable events
of the day
II was quite dark as Jamie hurried ON his
last errand-the delivering large envelope,
oddly enough addressed to Miss q. II.
Smith--not that the surname surprised
him, as he delivered quantities of Smith
matter every month, but the G. II. were
Lelia's own initials, which certainly was a
little strange. He ran up the steps OF a
handsome house and though in hurry,
stopped an instant to watch man-servant
within, who could be plainly seen through
the lace.hung windows as he lighted the
chandelier In an elegant drawing-room,
when, to his utter surprise, an inner door
opened to admit a lady--the very lady whom
he had upset that morningi Excited and
laughing ut the recollection, he rang the
boil, and, as the man promptly appeared,
handed the envelope, ~ he supposed, and
''sa down the stepA